Experimental research on production and use of floating pellets in fish feed in aquaculture systems

Adequate nutrition practices are essential for the efficient production of superior goods in aquaculture systems. Nutrition is a key component in the aquaculture industry because feed constitutes about 50% of the variable expense of production. Fishmeal and fish oil have traditionally been the main primary materials used to support the aquaculture industry. They have largely been supplanted by plant-based raw materials, but specific techniques are needed to satisfy fish dietary needs. As aquaculture has expanded, people have been searching for alternative farming nutritional sources since fish meal and fish oil are produced from captured wild fish. Fish have different nutritional needs that rely on a variety of variables. This paper describes an experimental study that was completed on the production of pelletized complex feeds with high stability that were used in the feeding technology of some fish species grown in a polyculture system with recirculation and cyclic water supply. The purpose of feed formulation is to mix ingredients of different nutritional quality so as to obtain a balanced diet, which biologically available nutrient profile approximates the nutritional needs of the concerned species. In fish farms, the choice of feeder for different types of fish takes into account the following criteria: the level of stability in the water, the return on investment in feed, efficient conversion of feed and its attractiveness to fish. The high level of feed stability prevents feed losses and reduces water contamination. The results showed a high stability of the pellets associated with an important increase in the size of the fish raised in the polyculture system. Although each feeding recipe showed benefits for certain fish species, the R3 feeder was the optimal mix, leading to 43% average growth for all varieties and being considered the best option for polyculture systems.